Lindsay Everard

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Sir William Lindsay Everard (13 March 1891 – 11 March 1949) was an English brewer, politician, and philanthropist from Leicestershire. He ran Everards Brewery from 1925 until his death and served as Conservative MP for Melton. He was also High Sheriff of Leicestershire in 1924.

A keen aviation supporter, he founded Ratcliffe Aerodrome near his Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake estate in 1930 and backed local air clubs and aircraft racing. He did not fly professionally but hired pilots and financed air shows. Ratcliffe Aerodrome became an important base for the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during World War II, ferrying aircraft and crews; about 50,000 ferry flights passed through. For his services to aviation and commerce, he was knighted during the war.

Everard also contributed to heritage and the community, buying Ulverscroft Priory in 1927 to save it, and building Bradgate Hall in 1930. He supported aviation manufacturing in England by backing Taylorcraft licensing and the wartime Auster program.

He died in Torquay, Devon, aged 57. Ratcliffe Aerodrome closed in 1950. His son Tony ran Everards Brewery from 1949 to 1988. He was married to Cornelia Ione Kathleen Beresford-Armstrong, and they had children including Patrick and Bettyne.